January 08, 2013

Blackfeet indicted for musicians' hunt

By Matt VolzThree Blackfeet tribal leaders were indicted Tuesday on charges they held illegal big-game hunts for a film crew and country music stars including Josh Thompson and Justin Moore, but supporters say the accusations stem from an internal tribal power struggle.

The men organized the hunts on the northwestern Montana reservation in 2010 and 2011. Federal prosecutors allege the hunts were unlicensed and the men illegally sold the tribe’s wildlife, but supporters say the hunts were organized to boost the poverty-stricken reservation’s economy and raise its profile.

Jay St. Goddard, Jay Wells and Gayle Skunkcap Jr. pleaded not guilty to six felony counts that include conspiracy, the illegal sale of tribal wildlife, theft from a tribal government receiving federal funds and making false statements. They made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong in Great Falls.

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Three former Blackfeet tribal leaders have reached plea deals on federal charges they held illegal big-game hunts for country musicians and an outdoors television show's hosts by allowing them to shoot elk, moose, deer and a black bear on the reservation without licenses.

Former Blackfeet Tribal Business Council members Jay St. Goddard and Jay Wells, and former tribal Fish and Game Director Gayle Skunkcap Jr. held the hunts in 2010 and 2011 for up-and-coming stars, including Josh Thompson and Justin Moore.

Three former Blackfeet tribal leaders will serve three years of probation for holding illegal big-game hunts for country musicians that were filming an outdoors television show on the northwestern Montana reservation.

U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen on Thursday also ordered Jay St. Goddard, Jay Wells and Gayle Skunkcap Jr. to pay $56,625 in restitution.